Callistemon pallidus 'Father Christmas'

RHS Plant Profile

bottlebrush 'Father Christmas'

Shrubs

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A hardy, upright or spreading evergreen shrub to around 1.5m in height, with an elegant, branching habit and olive green, narrowly-elliptic, aromatic foliage. Spikes of bottlebrush-like flowers with red and white tips appear in spring, and then sometimes again in summer. These are followed by woody fruit capsules which may persist for several years

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Loam, Sand

Size

Time to Maturity: 5–10 years

Growing Conditions

Loam Sand

Moisture: Moist but well–drained or Well–drained
pH: Acid or Neutral

Position

Full sun

Aspect: South–facing or West–facing
Exposure: Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20): H3

Colour & Scent

Fragrance Foliage

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Myrtaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: No
Foliage: Evergreen
Habit: Bushy, Spreading branched
Genus: Callistemon are evergreen shrubs with aromatic, linear to lance-shaped leaves and bottlebrush-like spikes of flowers in which the long colourful stamens are prominent
Name Status: Accepted

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in moist but well-drained, neutral to acid soil in full sun; established plants are drought resistant. In colder areas grow under glass in peat-free, loam-based compost in full light with good ventilation. Pot on or top dress in early spring

Propagation

Propagate by seed or from semi-ripe cuttings

Suggested planting locations and garden types

City and courtyard gardens
Coastal
Cottage and informal garden
Mediterranean climate plants
Low Maintenance
Conservatory and greenhouse
Flower borders and beds
Wall side borders

Pruning

Pruning group 8

Pests

May be susceptible to scale insects, mealybugs and glasshouse red spider mite

Diseases

May be susceptible to honey fungus